Electric cable reel



H. R. GROSS 2,375,917

ELECTRIC CABLE REEL Filed Oct. l1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 15, 1945.

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May 15, 1945.v H. R. GRoss 375,91?

ELECTRIC CABLE REEL Filed Oct. l1, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v ,/fzyJ-'Z 6177655 BY J {n/3&5; Me@ wa//// Patented May 15, 1945 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CABLE REEL Henry R. Gross, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 11, 1943, Serial No. 505,779.

14 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric cable reel permitting the cable to be unwound to the extent desired, and automatically rewinding or retracting the cable in response to a pull on the cable itself.

This application is acontinuation in part of my application, Serial Number 480,757, filed March 27, 1943, now abandoned.

The principal object of the invention is to provide such a reel which may be mounted horizontally or in any angular position whatsoever.

, It is a further object of the invention to provide an electric cable reel wherein the means for latching the reel against rewinding is positively actuated to, and positively held in, releasing position to permit rewinding of the cable in whatever angular, or horizontal, position the reel may be mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide in'an electric cable reel having ratchet and pavvl means permitting extension of the cable and latching the reel against cable retraction, automatically operated means operable upon a pull on the cable to render the pawl and ratchet means ineffective to prevent cable retraction and operable upon a pull on the cable for rendering the pawl and ratchet means effective to prevent cable retraction.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in an electrical cable reel, of the character` above described, means for preventing the engagement of the pawl and ratchet means, should the automatically operated means, by reason of Wear or breakage, be rendered inoperative to hold the pawl and ratchet means in ineiective position so that, in such an eventuality, the reel may be continued in use by manually holding the cable in extended position.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure l is a plan view of a horizontally mounted electric cable reel embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in section on line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figline 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figures 6 to 9 are views similar to Figure 5 but showing the mechanism in dliferent positions 'of operation. A

As shown in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a drum or casing 2 formed of intertting sheet metal shells 4 and 6. The casing forms a housing for a shaft 8 having reduced and centrally threaded opposite end portions l0 and i2, the reduced end portion I2 receiving in its threaded opening a screw which fastens the shell 6 to the shaft' 8.V The threaded opening in the reduced 'end portionl I0 receives a screw l'fastening4 the' shell 4 to `the shaft. The 'shell' B is spot welded 'or otherwise fastened to a mounting bar or lbracket 20.

A reel or drum 24 is housed in thecasing 2 and comprises a disk'or Iplate 26 fastened inan'y appropriate manner 'to a shell 28 which formsa. housing for the reel' rewinding and cable retracting spring 30. The shell 28 may be secured by riveting or in any other convenient manner to a centrally oiset plate or disk 32,' the annular flange of which forms, with thev portion of the plate 26 beyond the shell 28,- means for confining the cable upon a drum formed by the shell 28 and the centrally offset portion ofthe plate 32. The centrally oiset portion of the plate 32 forms a housing for the collector means. or rings and brushes, by means of which the inner ends of the Wire of the electric cable are connected to the supply leads. Thus there may be mounted on the centrally oset portion of the plate 32 a cupshaped member 34, fixed by lugs 35 to the plate 32, and to this cup-shaped member there is afxed, centrally, a metal ring 36. A ring 38 of insulating material is also mounted in and fastened to the cup-shaped metal member 34, and this ring carries a slip ring 40 having a lug 42, to which is soldered the end of one wire 44 of the extensible electric cable 46. The cable 46 exand is secured by a suitable cementing layer 53 tothe inner surface of the centrally depressed portion of the plate 32. The cable 46 extends from thecasing through a ring 55 in suitable notches IQI. ELECTRICITY- TRANSMISSION VEHICLES,

in the meeting edges of the shells 4 and 6, the ring 55 aiding in holding the shell 4 against rotation.

A brush 52 engages the slip ring 40. Aand this brush ma'ycomprise a resilient metal strip fastened to an insulating member 54, fastened as by appropriate rivets to the shell 6 of the casing. A brush 56 cooperates with the ring 36, and this brush may comprise a spring metal V-shaped member 58 having integrally formed resilient prongs engaging the ring 36. The member 58 is mounted on the member 54 and connected to the shell 6 by rivet 59.

A greased seal ring 60 of felt or other suitable material is contained in a cup 6| welded to the shell 6 and is positioned to contact the rounded, rebent edge of the annular flange of the cup 34 to complete the enclosing housing for the collector means, or rings and brushes, to protect these elements from dirt, dust, moisture, etc.

The spirally wound driving spring 30 is secured at one end to the shell 28,-as by rivet 62 received in a slot in the annular ange of the shell 28, and at the other end to the stationary shaft, as by screws 64. The supply leads 66 and B8 pass into a fitting 10. This may-comprise a. sheet metal shell or housing shaped to the configuration of the casing 2 and soldered or otherwise fastened to that casing in the position shown in Figure l or in the reverse position in which the pipe nipple 12 extends in the opposite direction; the pipe nipple 12 connecting the tting 10 to the usual wiring conduit (not shown). The active or hot wire of the lead-ins, as for example the lead-in 68, is connected to the terminal screw 14 mounted on, but insulated from, the rim of the shell 6, and this terminal screw is connected by the insulated wire 16 extending along the bottom of the shell and into the housng formed by sealing ring 60 and cup 34 where it is connected to the brush 52. The grounded one of the lead-ins, as'for example the lead-in 66, is connected to the shell 6 as by terminal screw 18. The shell 4 is notched to encompass the screw 18, which thus aids in holding the shell 4 against rotation relative to shell 6.

A pair of metal rings 80 and 82 (Figure 3) are spotwelded, riveted, or otherwise fastened t each other and to the outer surface of the disc or plate 28 of the reel drum 24. 'Ihe rings 80 and 82 are provided with two or more angularly spaced notches 84 and 86 (Figures 5- to 9), each formed to have an abrupt'or radial shoulder 88 at its forward edge and a curved camlike shoulder 90 at its rear edge. A detent, pawl cr latching member 92 is pivoted as by Apin or rivet 94 to a disc or plate 95. The end portion I0 of shaft 8 is formed as a key for the plate 95 to hold it against rotation. The pawl 92 is guided and limited in its movement by headed pin or rivet 96 xed to the plate 95 and received in a slot 98 in the member 92, the head of the pin 96 overlying the edge of the slot 98. The member 92 is provided with a tooth or latching projection |00 adapted to be received in the notches 84 and 86 and formed with an abrupt o1' radial forward surface 02 for engaging the shoulder 88 of each notch and formed with a curved or camlike rear surface |04 cooperating with the shoulder 90 of each notch to effect inward movement of the member 92 as the rings 80 and 82 rotate in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figures through 9. l

The member 92 is formed with an integral Cross Reference arm |06 carrying adjacent its free end a pin |08 receiving the hook end of a spiral spring l0. Preferably the pin |08 is formed with an annular groove which receives that end of the spring so that the end of the spring may be swung relative to the pin but is held against movement longitudinally of the pin. A lever, pawl, or release member ||2 is pivoted as by pin or rivet ||4 to the outer surface of the plate 95. The pivot pin H4 is positioned with its axis on the same diameter AB of the disk or plate 95 as the axis of the pin 94.

The lever 2 is provided with a pin ||6 similar to the pin |08 and receiving in a similar manner the opposite hook end of the spring I0, .and the forward free end or nose of the lever is curved to provide a camlike surface 8 which will engage the inner edge of the ring but will not retard the rotation of the ring. The lever H2 is greater in length than the distance between the axis of its pivot pin ||4 and the inner edge of the ring 89 measured along the diameter AB, but is somewhat less in length than the distance from the axis of the pivot pin pin ||4 to the base of the notch 84 or 86 measured along this same diameter.v

'Ihe pin |08 carried by the arm |06 of the member 92 is so mounted that, when the member 92 is in the position showin in Figure 6 with its tooth |00 contacting the inner surface of the ring 89, spring ||0 applies a force tending to rotate the member' 92 and the lever ||2 in a counterclockwise direction.

When a pull is exerted on the electric cable 46 to extend or withdraw it from the reel, the reel drum 24 and consequently the ring 80 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 5 through 9, and if the latching member 92 and release member 2 be in the position shown in Figure 5, the rear edge of leach notch engaging the rear surface of the tooth I 00 of the latch member moves the latter inwardly to the position shown in Figure 6 as the ring 80 rotates. The spring. |I0 maintains the tooth |00 in light contacting engagement with the inner surface of the ring, and also maintains cam surface ||8 of the lever ||2 in light contacting engagement with that surface. Hnce, as the next notchfor example notch 84-comes in line with the tooth I 00 of the latch member, the spring ||0 moves the member outwardly and the tooth into the notch, by the rear edge of which the members are again moved inwardly while the rotation of the reel drum is continued.

It will be evident that when the cable has been extended the desired amount and the cable released, the returning or rewinding spring 30 causes the reel drum to rotate in a counterclockwise direction until notch 84 or 86, whichever was positioned between the tooth |00 and the lever ||2 at the time the pull on the cable was released, aligns with the tooth |00 and the forward shoulder 88 of the notch is engaged by the forward surface |02 of the tooth by which the ring, and consequently the reel drum, are held against further backward or retractile movement, the member 92 and the lever I2 then occupying the position shown in Figure 5.

When it is desired to shorten-or retract the cable, a pull is first exerted on the cable which causes the reel 'drum and ring 80 to rotate in clockwise direction, and this pull is continued until the notch, Ain which the tooth |00 was last received, passes the lever 2 and the cable is then released, permitting the spring to rotate the Examine reel drum and ring f80rin afcounterclockwise'idi- .-rection l IAs'theringein'rotating-in the counterini-Figure 8; snaps 'the -member "92 intothe position shown in Figure 9, in which'fposition the.l

pin m8cisfspacedyfromthe diameteror line AB 4in a; `clockwise direction and-the anemberiSZis held-out rof contactingengagement with the in- =nerrsunface 'of .'the"ring,. and retained against movement; into? the notches vas'fthe -reel :drum and ring continue torotate in a coimterclockwise di- -rectionrto-:effectrewinding'oraretraction of the -electric'cablei :It Wilifbeievident that when the=member92 hand member :M2-.are positionedas-shown in'Figure 9. the :spring 'rtl 0 urges the' lever ,'l 1 2 Ain :clockwise 1direction=zandaetains it in light contacting 'enzgagemenbwith fthe inner surface of the :ring 80,

:the-reel mnd drum aresrotatediin a1clockwisedinectionnhe lever willbe urged into'the'rst notch tc :become ,aligned with-tit and-will thereupon :be mavedjbyrthershouiderf.oftheunotch in a clockwisdimction.mmtilrthefcenterfof the :pin lll passes I- thenline Athrough :the -`centers of -the --pin ..k08.^and ther-pivot zpinf H4 andthe member 92 thereby retumedzto the position shown: -in- Figfure ;,so 'that the tooth-.49D and thewmenrber ,-92 willvbenpositioned ;forl 'movement-:into Lthe notch -inlthe ring whenever; .following arelea-se -of the .pull on the-:cable, lthe-reel; drum lmoves :backwardlyzsuicientlyto align anotch with the tooth.

--Since theirangular spacing oflthe nose-of the or 85 when the tooth becomes: `aligned'` withthe tooth'filllwof the .other pawl. ."Thetoothuof the vpavvlwill then, -by 'sthe action-Tof gravity, become seatedin the notch and furtherfre-Winding-'of the'cable onI the reel will thereaftervbe prevented. *In* ordervto elirninatethis possibility, alight spiralrspring '220 has one end hooked over. a pin l22 carried by the pavvl'92 and lts other end Ahooked overa pin I 24 secured to the disk 95 betweenthe pawl vand the outer edge ofthe disk. This-spring constantly urges the paWl in aclockwise direction'with a force which vis materially vless than the force applied'to the pawl bythe springt-l0. 'The sprngl20, however, applies-sufflcent forcefto the pawl'to-overcomefthe action o'gravityshouldthe reel 'be -mountedin a' vertical position or in Aany positionin whichthe force of gravity would tend to-'cause the pawl to 'move' in a counterclockwise direction and engage ofsulcient force `to prevent the-pawl frorn- -moving into engagement -with the notch under the strongest vibrations'to which the reel might be subjected. It will v'be evident, therefore, 'that 'f' Vsho'uldthe spring H0, by wear or 'breakageffbe `rendered inelective to hold the 'pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet-Whenthe member H2 is in the-released position, as infFigure 9,'-the Aspring l120 4will come into play and hold'the paw] permanently in released position sothat-the reel may be continued'in use and, While noti-locked 'when the cable is in extended position, nevertheless automatically retractable to rewind the cable when the paWl or holding'force on'the cable is released.

In-order to prevent'latching'off/the reel against retraction of the cable when the cable isfully extended, a predetermined lengthl of thecable is .cemented or otherwise fastened, interiorly Aof l the center of the -offset portion Vof the plate `32 lever H2 from the tooth 1100. isapproximately ci'.

fone-third:ofthe-,circumferencezof the ring, there :ische outioffth/ree'chances of thereel Y.being reieasedior retractionwof 'the' cable by reelase of 'thenpull' on the l1c/able;--andmtwfr out of three :chances 'of'itswbeing lockedmganst retraction *upon release oflthe-pull` on vthe lloable.

This is advantageous for the--possibilityofan inadvertent retraction of the1cable Yupon sudden release-:of

. thepullon the cable is minimized.

It'will beevident that thiszratio maybevaried by rvarying lthe number of `notches :in the l ring -80 b:tu mcrease'or-decrease the possibilities of'locking Aby limiting movement of fthednember,l tofassure :maintenanceootthe spring M9 under-the proper atencion requiredI for: the :proper automatic operationvofthemember and-levert I2.

-Under-the-conditions-.of rough usage to which the reel-'may fbe subjected,4 forzexample. as when -mountedin a-etank, thespral-.spring `MII may,

Y bywear or, lzrreakages -become ineiective to4 hold therpawl ,S2-in the releasing -postion shown in Figure 9. If the reel were mounted-.in afvertical lflicsiton,--orin aposition inclined at asuicient ranglesto the Vvertical, .the .pawl A,92 maythen, vby

ithe-actionvoi g-ravitybeamoved into. afnotch `84 of. vthe reel drum, to that plate, so that when.

the cable is fully extended a notch will not ibe aligned with a tooth of the member 92, but a sucient length of cable will be retained on the drum 'when the .drum is latched so that a pull on the cable will further Aextend the same, and then, by releasingthe cable, the lever H2 will be operated to move the member92 into this released position, permitting automatic retraction of the cable. Alternatively, if the conditions of service are such that a fully sealed upper casing surface is not required, the member B2 may be provided with a pin extending axially of the reel drum through an opening provided in the shell 4 so that such pin can .be manipulated to manually release the .latch member 92,if thesameshould be aligned with a notch when the cable .is fully extended.

It will be evident that ,by` the .disclosed invention applicant has provided anelectric cable reel which may be vmounted in a horizontal, vertical, .or Aany inclined position, Without interferingwith theproper operation of thereel releasing andre- 4 traction preventing. mechanism.

.is obvious that numerous changes may be made inthe form,v construction, and :arrangement of the .several .part-s Without ,departing :from :the

.spiritorzscope of; theA invention or sacrificing -any of .its attendant advantages, l.the form herein described .being a .preferred -embodiment for. the

purpose of. illustrating the invention.

191. ELECTRlClTY- TRANSMISSION What I claim is:

1."In an electric cable reel, means adapted to rotate about a vertical axis for yielding and automatically retracting the cable, pawl and ratchet members adapted to be horizontally mounted, said members being relatively movable upon yielding of the cable and latching said cable against retraction, and separate means actuated by one of said members for control by the cable and connected to the other of said members for rendering said pawl and ratchet members inefective to preventretraction of the cable.

2. In a reel, a ratchet member rotatable with the reel, a pawl positioned to engage said ratchet for limiting winding of the reel and permitting unwinding of the reel, and toggle means for adjusting said pawl for rendering it eiective or ineffective to limit winding of the reel, said toggle means comprising an operating member, and a spring connector in one position of the operating member urging said pawl into engagement with the ratchet and in a second position of said operating member maintaining said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet, said operating member being positioned to be engaged and moved by said ratchet from said one position to said second position upon limited winding of the reel and being engaged and moved by said ratchet from said second position to said one position upon unwinding ofthe reel.

3. In a cable reel, a rotary drum receiving said cable, a stationary shaft on which said drum rotates, spring means operatively connected to said drum for permitting rotation of the drum to extend the cable upon exertion of a pull on the cable and tending automatically to retract the cable upon release of the pull on the cable, pawl and ratchet members, said ratchet member being connected to the drum for rotation therewith and the pawl member being operatively connected to the shaft to be held thereby against rotation with the drum, said pawl and ratchet members being constructed to permit rotation of the drum in the cable extending direction upon a -pull being exerted thereon and limiting the movement of the drum in the cable retracting direction when the pull on the cable is released, and a control member for rendering said pawl ineffective to limit rotation of the drum in the cable retracting di'- rection, said control member being operatively connected to the pawl and mounted in angularly spaced relation thereto for actuation by the ratchet member when engaged thereby on rotation of the drum in the cable retracting direction.

4. In an electric cable reel, an extensible electric cable, a rotary drum receiving said cable, a stationaryshaft on which said drum rotates, spring mea-ns operatively connected to said drum for permiting rotation of the drum to extend the cable upon exertion of a pull on the cable and tending automatically to rotate the drum in the opposite direction upon release of the pull on the cable, pawl and ratchet members of which one member is connected to the drum for rotation therewith and the other of which is connected to the shaft to be held thereby against rotation with the drum, said pawl and ratcet members being constructed to permit rotation of the reel in the cable extending direction upon a pull being exerted thereon and limiting the movement of the drum in the cable retracting direction when the pull on the cable is released, a two-position control means movable from a rst position to a second position by the member rotating with Crossv Reference y Emmi the drum as thecable on Ibeing extended-is released for retraction and movable from the second position to the first position upon rotation of the drum in the cable extending direction, and means connecting said two-position control means to the non-rotatable one of said pawl and ratchet members for moving said member to a position in which itis ineffective to limit rotation of the drum in the cable retracting direction when the control means is moved to its second position, said connecting means being constructed to return the non-rotatable member to a position in which it is effective to limit rotation of the rotatable member and drum in the cable retracting direction when the two-position control means is moved to its irst position.

5, In a cable reel, a casing, a shaft in said casing, mounting means for said casing and adapted to hold said casing and shaft against rotation, a drum in said casing and rotatably mounted on said shaft, a cable wound upon said drum, said casing having an opening therethrough through which the cable passes for extension and retraction, a spring housed in said drum and connected at one end to the drum and at the other end'to said stationary shaft for permitting rotation of the drum in one direction upon the exertion of a pull upon the cable and tending to rotate the drum in the opposite direction upon release of the pull on the cable, a toothed ring secured to said drum for rotation therewith, a pawl, mounting means for said pawl and secured to said shaft to prevent rotation of the pawl with the drum, a two-position pawl adjusting member secured against rotation with said drum 'and positioned for operation by a tooth of said ring, and spring means connecting said pawl adjusting member to said pawl and constructed and arranged to urge said pawl and said pawl adjusting member toward tooth-engaging positions when said adjusting member is in one position and to urge said pawl away from tooth-engaging position and said adjusting member toward toothengaging position when said adjusting member is in the second position.

6. In a cable reel, a stationary shaft, a drum rotatable on said shaft, a cable wound upon said drum, means operatively connected to said drum and shaft for permitting rotation of the drum in a forward direction to extend the cable when a pull is exerted thereon and tending to rotate said drum in a rearward direction to retract the cable when the pull on the cable is released, a ring secured to said drum for rotation therewith,

a plate mounted Within said ring and secured to said shaft against rotation with the drum, a pawl pivoted on said plate, said ring having teeth for engagement by said pawl to prevent rotation of the drum in the rearward direction and ratcheting past said pawl on rotation of the drum in the forward direction, a lever pivoted to said plate, a toggle connection, including a spring, connecting said lever to said pawl, said spring being constructed and arranged to urge said pawl into position to engage the teeth of the ring when the lever is a first position and maintaining said pawl out of tooth-engaging positionvwhen the lever is in a second position, said lever being constructed and arranged for movement by the teeth of the ring from the first position to the second position and, reversely, in accordance with the direction of rotation of the drum.

7. In a reel, means permitting rotation of the reel in a forward direction and tending to urge said reel in a rearward direction, a ring secured i operated by -the -reel upon subsequent. unwinding movement-.for rendering said nrstmeans eiective to limit the windingmovement of the reel, and means ormaintaining said nrst meansA inefuztocsaidfreelnaapatn,ganounting vmeans on' which csaidgpawlteis, pivotedzgfor'ipreventing; rotationof ithexpawl with thereel, said' ringzhavingpnotches therein, 1 .'each: :having :an f abrupt 'forward` edge -,:engageable-witn thevpawl to prevent rearward :movementz Lof ...the 'reel;\and a; `camlike -rear- -edg'e moving the pawl out of thenotchupon forward rotationjoflthe reel, a lever positioned for movement into and out of said notches as the reel `,fective` toglimit the, winding movement of the reel thereel apawlfpositionedto engage, said ratchet rotates in either direction and mounted for lu for limiting winding movement of the reel and pivotal movement by the edges of the notches permitting unWnding InOVelnent 0f the reel, and from a first position to a. second position, and a toggle means for adjusting Said pawl for rendertoggle connection between said lever and said ing it effective or ineiective to limit winding of pawl for snapping said pawl from a position to the reel, said toggle means comprising a twoengage the forward edge of a notch in the ring .is position operating member, a spring Connector to a second position in which it is held against in the rSt position of the operating member movement into the notches, said toggle connecurging said pawl into engagement with the tion including a spring operable in one position ratchet and in the second position of said Opel'- of the pawl and lever for urging both said lever ating member maintaining said pawl out of enand said pawl into the notches and operable in 2o gagement with said ratchet, said operating memthe other position of said pawl and lever for ber being positioned to be engaged and moved by maintaining said pawl against movement into the said ratchet to the second position upon winding notches and urging said lever into said notches. movement of the reel and to be engaged and 8. In a cable reel, a shaft adapted to be posimoved by said ratchet to the rst position upon tioned at avertical angle, a cable receiving drum g5 unWnding movement of the reel. and Spring .iournaled on said shaft for rotation about the axis thereof, spring means operatively connected to said drum and shaft for permitting rotation of the drum in a forward direction upon extension of the cable and urging said drum in a rearward direction of rotation to retract the cable, pawl and ratchet members operatively connected to said drum and said-shaft for permitting rotation of the drum in the forward direction and preventing rotation in the rearward direction except to a limited angular extent, and pawl adjusting mechanism engageable with one of said members for actuation thereby and operable upon rotation of said drum in a forward direction to means constantly urging said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet to maintain said pawl disengaged from the ratchet in the event said toggle means becomes inoperative to move the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet.

13. In a cable reel, a stationary shaft, a drum rotatable on said shaft, a cable wound upon said drum, means operatively. connected to said drum and shaft for permitting rotation of the drum in a forward direction to extend the cable when a pull is exerted thereon and tending to rotate said drum in a rearward direction, to retract the cable when the pull on the cable is released, a ring secured to said drum for rotation therewith, a

maintain said pawl in position to engage the lo disk mounted within said ring and secured to said ratchet upon release of the cable and operable shaft against rotation with the drum, a pawl upon engagement with said one member during pivoted on Said disk, said ring having teeth for rotation of the drum in the rearward direction engagement by Said pawl to prevent rotation of to maintain said pawl in a position out of enthe drum in the rearward direction and ratchetgagement with the ratchet, until the drum is Subii ing past said pawl on rotation of the drum in the sequently rotated in the forward direction, forward direction, a lever pivoted to said disk, a whereby to permit the retraction of the cable toggle connection, inoluding a Spring, Connecting without interference by the pawl and ratchet said lever to said pawl, said Spring being 00nmeans, structed and arranged to urge said pawl into 9. In 'an electric cable reel, means yielding and 5u position to engage the tooth of the ring when the automatically retracting the electric cable, means lever is in a first position and maintaining Said for automatically latching the cable against repawl ont 0f tooth-engaging position when the traction by said first means, means controlled by lever is in a Second position, Said lever being manipulation of the cable for rendering said constructed and arranged for movement by the latching means ineffective to prevent automatic 5.', teeth of the ring from the first position to the retraction of the cable, and means for maintainsecond position and, reversely, in accordance with ing said latching means ineective in the event the direction of rotation of the drum, and a that the cable controlled v means becomes in- Second Spring Constantly urging Said pawl out of operative. tooth-engaging position for maintaining said 10. In a reel, means for permitting movement @e pawl out of tooth-engaging position in the event of the reel in one direction and preventing movethe first spring is inoperative to move the pawl to ment of the reel in the opposite direction, means that position. operated by the reel for rendering said first 14. In a cable reel, a shaft adapted to be posimeans ineiective, to prevent movement of the tioned at a vertical angle, a cable receiving drum reel in said opposite direction, and means for Gy, journaled on said shaft for rotation about the maintaining the first means ineective to prevent axis thereof, spring means operatively connected movement of the reel in said opposite direction to said drum and shaft for permitting rotation of in the event the reel operated means becomes the drum in a forward direction upon extension inoperative. A of the cable and urging said drum in a rearward l1. In a reel, means for limiting the winding 7o direction of rotation to retract the cable, pawl movement of the reel and permitting unwinding and ratchet means operatively connected to said movement of the reel without such limitation, drum and said shaft for permitting rotation of means operated by the reel upon winding movethe drum in the forward direction and preventment for rendering said rst means ineffective ing rotation in the rearward direction except to 75 a limited angular extent, pawl adjusting mechato limit the winding movement of the reel and nism actuated by said pawl and ratchet means and operable upon rotation of said drum in a forward direction to maintain said pawl in position to engage the ratchet upon release of the cable and operable upon rotation of the drum during its permitted angular movement in the rearward direction to maintain said pawl in a position out of engagement with the ratchet, until the drum is subsequently rotated in the forward direction, whereby to permit th retraction of the cable without interference by the pawl and ratchet means, and means for maintaining said pawl in a position out of engagement with the ratchet in the event the pawl adjusting mechanism becomes inoperative to move the pawl to such position.

HENRY R. GROSS. 

